Mohali, February 15, 2017: Noted filmmaker Mr Mahesh Bhatt unveiled a book titled ‘CanSurvive – Inspiring Stories of Those who Beat Cancer’ at Fortis Cancer Institute in Mohali today. The book features inspiring stories of 13 cancer survivors and their families who were present on the occasion. The event was graced by Dr Gurbir Singh, Regional Medical Director (North & East), Fortis Healthcare; Dr Rajeev Bedi, Director, Medical Oncology, Fortis Cancer Institute and Mr Abhijit Singh, Facility Director, Fortis Mohali.
The survivors Mrs Sandeep Guron, Mr Pradeep Sharma, Mrs Shashi Sharma, Ms Mandeep Rahi, Mrs Neelam Pathak, Mrs Savita Sharma, Mr Manpreet Singh, Mrs Santosh Bakshi, Mr Virpal Singh, Mrs Meena Rana, Mr Sanjeev Sharma, Mrs Inderjeet Kaur and Mr Mohan Singh were present at the event.
The book encapsulates stories of the patients, diagnosed with advanced stage cancer, who fought a brave battle with the dreaded disease with grit and determination. It underlines the strong supporting role played by their family and unique line of treatment adopted by the treating doctors. Each of these cases was distinctive in terms of clinical challenge it posed. The paperback edition of the book will be distributed free of cost. The e-book is available for free download from the Fortis Healthcare website.
After launching the book, Mr Mahesh Bhatt said, “This is a commendable initiative to highlight how these brave-hearts put up a glowing fight against this dreaded menace & won. While it is important to acknowledge the clear and present danger of cancer lurking in our lives today, it is vital that we don’t lose our hearts and fight against cancer. The inspirational tales written in this book will surely help us embolden our determination to put up a brave fight against cancer.”
The veteran director & filmmaker also wrote a foreword in the book. He shared his experience when Ayaan, his grand-nephew & young son of leading actor Emraan Hashmi, was diagnosed with cancer. Speaking about the incident, Mr Bhatt added, “Ayaan’s story has an exhilarating, happy ending. We are the stories we are raised with. Here, in this book, you will find innumerable inspiring stories of those who triumphed over cancer, with courage and dignity, and have generously shared their most personal experiences with the rest of the world.”
Echoing a similar emotion, Dr Gurbir Singh said, “The book is an inspiration for all of us. The moving stories of the survivors, along with their entire support system, is a true reflection of human spirit to keep fighting even when the chips are down. At Fortis, we would like to acknowledge and support such endearing stories of cancer survivors through this book. We intend to make it an annual initiative so that more such stories inspire people to keep up the fight against cancer.”
Dr Rajeev Bedi, Director of Medical Oncology at Fortis Cancer Institute, said, “The stories incubate a desire to wage a fight, but at the same time & more importantly, underline the importance of regular cancer screening. The rising incidence of cancer is a grave concern, which can be addressed by early detection through screening and through an effective line of treatment.”
From the Book:
“Mrs. Sandeep Guron, 41, did not break down even once during her long and arduous battle against cancer. Detected with cancer of the rectum in 2013, this mother of two says very matter-of-factly: “Cancer is beatable”. And it’s with this nonchalance that Sandeep underwent the chemotherapy and radiotherapy to cure her of cancer. Though fitted with a permanent ileostomy bag now, this feisty survivor has not let it slow her down. “If you have even one day to live, life it your own way!” she radiates positivity and inspiration.
About the book:
‘CanSurvive – Inspiring stories of those who beat cancer’ is a book compiled by Fortis Cancer Institute Mohali and features stories of survivors. The youngest survivor is aged 39 years while the oldest aged 80 years. Launched in the coffee table format, the book will also be available free of cost in paperback, apart from being easily downloadable online from www.fortishealthcare.com/cansurvive.
As per government estimates, the number of deaths due to breast cancer is 74,463; due to cervical cancer is 69,291 and due to lung cancer is 1,09,710 by 2020. As reported by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the projected deaths due to lung cancer account for 15.6% of all cancer deaths in males and is the leading cause of death. The deaths due to cervical cancer account for 20.6% and breast cancer account for 17.4% of all female cancer deaths[ii]. Studies also state that the average age of breast cancer diagnosis is 61, it’s 66 for prostate cancer, 68 for colorectal cancer and 70 for lung cancer. As per National Cancer Registry Programme of National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, 1 out of 8 men has the possibility of developing cancer in his lifetime (0-74 years). Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) Cancer registry data, estimated incidences of cancer for 2016 are 14.5 lakh, which is estimated to go up to 17.3 lakh cases by 2020. The number of deaths due to cancer for 2016 are estimated to be around 7.3 lakh which is estimated to go up to 8.8 lakh by 2020.
About Fortis Hospital Mohali
Fortis Hospital Mohali is a 355 bed, JCI and NABH-certified, multispecialty care hospital. The hospital commenced operations in 2001, and is today considered one of the most recognized cardiac hospitals of India. Located in the heart of Punjab over 8.22 acres, the tertiary hospital has a comprehensive team of clinicians delivering world-class patient care, supported by advanced technology. In July 2014, Fortis Hospital Mohali added the 55-bed ‘Fortis Cancer Institute’ on its premises to offer the latest and most comprehensive Medical, Surgical and Radiation Therapy modalities.
About Fortis Healthcare Limited:
Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates its healthcare delivery services in India, Dubai, Mauritius and Sri Lanka with 45 healthcare facilities (including projects under development), approximately 10,000 potential beds and 329 diagnostic centres.
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